There’s a reason Algonquin remains one of Ontario’s most enduring wild spaces. Established in 1893, it was the first provincial park in Ontario and one of the earliest in Canada. The park spans more than 7,600 square kilometres of forests, lakes, and rocky ridges along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield. It has shaped generations of paddlers, artists, scientists, and families who return year after year.
Things to Do in Algonquin Park
Canoeing
Algonquin is synonymous with paddling. With over 2,000 kilometres of canoe routes and more than 1,500 lakes, visitors can choose anything from a short day paddle to a multi-day backcountry route.
Hiking
The Highway 60 corridor offers accessible trails ranging from easy boardwalk loops to challenging climbs with sweeping lookouts. Trails like Centennial Ridges and Lookout Trail offer classic views over rolling forest and lakes.
Wildlife Watching
Moose are often spotted in spring and early summer along wetlands and roadside marshes. White-tailed deer, beavers, loons, and even wolves call the park home.
Fall Colours
In late September and early October, Algonquin’s maple hillsides turn brilliant red and orange, making it one of Ontario’s most sought-after fall destinations.
Winter Adventures
In colder months, visitors come for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and quiet winter camping.
Where to Stay: Resorts In and Around Algonquin
Bartlett Lodge
Accessible by boat across Cache Lake, Bartlett Lodge offers a more secluded stay. With comfortable cottages and a welcoming dining lodge, it balances wilderness immersion with thoughtful hospitality.
Killarney Lodge
Located on Lake of Two Rivers inside the park, Killarney Lodge offers private cabins, hearty meals, and direct access to canoe routes and hiking trails. It’s a classic Algonquin experience — screen doors, dockside sunsets, and easy mornings with coffee overlooking the lake.
Couples Resort
Just outside the park’s east gate in Whitney, Couples Resort is an adults-only retreat known for spa services and fine dining. It’s well suited to travellers looking to pair Algonquin hikes with private hot tubs, massages, and multi-course dinners.
Blue Spruce Resort
just minutes from Algonquin Provincial Park’s west gate, Blue Spruce Resort is a lakeside cottage resort on Oxtongue Lake in Dwight offering fully equipped housekeeping cottages, a sandy beach, and complimentary canoes and kayaks for easy access to both relaxed lake days and park adventures.
Spectacle Lake Lodge
Located east of the park near Barry’s Bay, Spectacle Lake Lodge offers a quiet lakeside stay with comfortable rooms and guided outdoor experiences. It’s an ideal option for travellers wanting proximity to Algonquin’s east side without staying directly inside the park.
Algonquin Log Cabins
For a guided wilderness experience, Algonquin Log Cabins offers year-round log cabin stays in the park’s northwest corner. Operated by Voyageur Quest, the experience blends nature immersion with structured activities such as canoeing, snowshoeing, and interpretive naturalist-led outings.
Algonquin continues to anchor Ontario’s outdoor identity — a landscape where lakes connect by portage trails and seasons reshape the experience each time you return.
For travellers who prefer a broader regional base, Muskoka resorts are also within easy driving distance and provide a comfortable home base for exploring the park while enjoying the amenities of Ontario’s cottage country.